I wish I could write "and counting" in the title, but we're just trying to start on the 10 hours. Christopher needs 10 hours of community service for the semester to meet his National Junior Honor Society membership requirements. As if straight As isn't enough!
He's had two opportunities that would knock out between five and you guessed it, 10 hours. He could be done. By why think that when he can just wait and not have to wake up early or have to do some kind of manual labor -- like setting up folding chairs or putting away said chairs.
The approach now is to work in the church nursery. Or maybe help a coach he is related to . . .towels to fold?
Any other ideas? Paint over grafitti? Plant a tree? Clean an abandoned lot?
The good news -- as soon as we knock this semester out -- he has to accumulate 10 more next semester.
10 hours . . . and starting to count?!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Football Saved Us . . .
With the first football game under his belt, the school year has turned around. That's OK, right? I know the focus shouldn't be on sports but the threat of no pass, no play, the fun of riding the bus to an away game and kicking off the season with him kicking makes for a much easier time.
We won by the way. It's a great team. The high school coach should not retire until these kids get to varsity. They are winners -- and naturally talented, skilled, too. Christopher kicked well. Only one kick was caught, the rest dropped and rolled. One made it to the 18-yard-line. And, the first kick-off, he then came in to make the tackle.
He loves defense and showed it in the game. He didn't start at corner, but came out and showed the coaches he knows how to play. He also had the pass reception possibility of a lifetime and because he was all alone and open and no defender was even close . . . .aargh, he dropped it. He admitted later he was thinking about scoring. It was a designed play for him so I think they'll pass it to him again.
So being in that defense-like mind, he's been better at anticipating . . .homework, studying, allocating time correctly. I mean he's not a completely changed teenager, but football is helping in some strange way. Yeah, we get home later than most kids because of practice and he needs to spend the first moments at home shoving food in his face and changing out of sweaty clothes, but it forces him to think. He has to be ready. He has to be positioned for success. He has to plan ahead to be a part of the play.
He made a C on his history test, but has an 89 in the class. And, in Algebra he struggled on a test, but has an 89. All his other classes -- As. Something has clicked. Something made sense.
Football. Hallelujah, we'll go to that church! I believe. Next up, next week . . .
We won by the way. It's a great team. The high school coach should not retire until these kids get to varsity. They are winners -- and naturally talented, skilled, too. Christopher kicked well. Only one kick was caught, the rest dropped and rolled. One made it to the 18-yard-line. And, the first kick-off, he then came in to make the tackle.
He loves defense and showed it in the game. He didn't start at corner, but came out and showed the coaches he knows how to play. He also had the pass reception possibility of a lifetime and because he was all alone and open and no defender was even close . . . .aargh, he dropped it. He admitted later he was thinking about scoring. It was a designed play for him so I think they'll pass it to him again.
So being in that defense-like mind, he's been better at anticipating . . .homework, studying, allocating time correctly. I mean he's not a completely changed teenager, but football is helping in some strange way. Yeah, we get home later than most kids because of practice and he needs to spend the first moments at home shoving food in his face and changing out of sweaty clothes, but it forces him to think. He has to be ready. He has to be positioned for success. He has to plan ahead to be a part of the play.
He made a C on his history test, but has an 89 in the class. And, in Algebra he struggled on a test, but has an 89. All his other classes -- As. Something has clicked. Something made sense.
Football. Hallelujah, we'll go to that church! I believe. Next up, next week . . .
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Rough Week
The first week of school was kind of rough around here.
The new cleats are hard to get on.
The first period History class threw a quiz on day number two and making it up has been a challenge.
The stomach bug meant an absence on Friday, missed first day of pads and a Saturday practice.
The online History quiz is inaccessible for some reason and it is due today.
All this adds up to a tough start. Please, next week has to be better.
The new cleats are hard to get on.
The first period History class threw a quiz on day number two and making it up has been a challenge.
The stomach bug meant an absence on Friday, missed first day of pads and a Saturday practice.
The online History quiz is inaccessible for some reason and it is due today.
All this adds up to a tough start. Please, next week has to be better.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
"I need more shorts"
Yep, that's what Christopher said last night. Uh, this weekend is not only the weekend before school starts which equals school clothes shopping madness, it is also tax free weekend -- madness on steroids!
He doesn't want to wear khaki shorts everyday. What?!
So today we'll be venturing out to buy some plaid shorts. I can only imagine what this will be like. Because the plaid shorts require shirts . . .
He doesn't want to wear khaki shorts everyday. What?!
So today we'll be venturing out to buy some plaid shorts. I can only imagine what this will be like. Because the plaid shorts require shirts . . .
Friday, August 20, 2010
Locker Day
Christopher had locker day at school yesterday. OK, it's official name is Harris Camp for Eighth Graders, but I prefer locker day. And, alright, it was in the evening so not officially a "daytime" event.
Nonetheless, he has a locker. A bottom locker. He told me he couldn't reach a top locker anyway. He can, but I think this plays into his thinking he is too short and needs to grow. Sometimes, I want him to grow right now, too. I want him to shoot up six inches or so right now. Now! I don't want him to have to worry right now about not being tall enough. He's not the shortest. There are many more kids shorter than him.
But if he grows, well, we'll have to go back-to-school clothes shopping again.
Nonetheless, he has a locker. A bottom locker. He told me he couldn't reach a top locker anyway. He can, but I think this plays into his thinking he is too short and needs to grow. Sometimes, I want him to grow right now, too. I want him to shoot up six inches or so right now. Now! I don't want him to have to worry right now about not being tall enough. He's not the shortest. There are many more kids shorter than him.
But if he grows, well, we'll have to go back-to-school clothes shopping again.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
In a week . .
School starts in about a week. Not ready for the homework and projects and schedules. But, I am ready for Christopher to be back with his friends and not on XBox Live or the iTouch.
We had a couple of things to get done in preparation.
School supplies
Easy to do with a middle schooler. A three-ring binder, some folders, a few spiral notebooks and mechanical pencils. There is a recommended list so we printed it out and took it to the store. And, as a result we bought the red pens, notebook paper, composition books and index cards, but I don't think those will be used. We could have gone into the last year's supply drawer and found these things.
School clothes
Christopher doesn't have a school uniform as dictated by his school. But, he does have a uniform. Khaki cargo pants and a T-shirt. Oftentimes, the t-shirt is either a Lee High School shirt or a Harris district champion shirt. This year, we're limiting that. He has a few "labels" that he can wear . . we'll see. Shorts and t-shirts do not an outfit make for my son. Rather, it's all about the socks. Socks. Black socks with a white Nike swoosh. So, we bought three new pairs and he has enough old pairs to last him through the week wearing two pair a day. Then, there are the Nike Elite Crew socks -- "mom, they have a stripe" -- which added up to $30.99 on ebay. He spent his own money on these socks and is going to carefully wash and hand dry them. He also mistakenly made a bid on another pair -- $16 total -- that he has to pay for.
Football
Since this is the first sport of the year, we're having to gear up. He's using the same helmet he had last year -- his own -- because the school helmet doesn't work. Still can't figure out why it doesn't work, but oh well, it just doesn't. His dad is replacing the face mask. $21 out of Christopher's wallet. Pants and pads day went well. Everything fit and is put away in the gym locker. We've ordered cleats because last year's have holes -- result of him being the kicker.
Schedule
Don't know the official class schedule, but we are working on a schedule around the house. He will pick out the week's outfits on Sunday so we don't have to frantically run a mid-week load of laundry for the right socks or shorts. We will have a dinner plan for each night (that's more for me). The trickiest schedule -- after getting home from practice and starving, he'll need a snack before any homework can take place. Yeah, getting homework done midst all other evening activities -- cooking dinner, caring for his sisters, etc., is tough.
School starts August 23 but we are in position to begin.
We had a couple of things to get done in preparation.
School supplies
Easy to do with a middle schooler. A three-ring binder, some folders, a few spiral notebooks and mechanical pencils. There is a recommended list so we printed it out and took it to the store. And, as a result we bought the red pens, notebook paper, composition books and index cards, but I don't think those will be used. We could have gone into the last year's supply drawer and found these things.
School clothes
Christopher doesn't have a school uniform as dictated by his school. But, he does have a uniform. Khaki cargo pants and a T-shirt. Oftentimes, the t-shirt is either a Lee High School shirt or a Harris district champion shirt. This year, we're limiting that. He has a few "labels" that he can wear . . we'll see. Shorts and t-shirts do not an outfit make for my son. Rather, it's all about the socks. Socks. Black socks with a white Nike swoosh. So, we bought three new pairs and he has enough old pairs to last him through the week wearing two pair a day. Then, there are the Nike Elite Crew socks -- "mom, they have a stripe" -- which added up to $30.99 on ebay. He spent his own money on these socks and is going to carefully wash and hand dry them. He also mistakenly made a bid on another pair -- $16 total -- that he has to pay for.
Football
Since this is the first sport of the year, we're having to gear up. He's using the same helmet he had last year -- his own -- because the school helmet doesn't work. Still can't figure out why it doesn't work, but oh well, it just doesn't. His dad is replacing the face mask. $21 out of Christopher's wallet. Pants and pads day went well. Everything fit and is put away in the gym locker. We've ordered cleats because last year's have holes -- result of him being the kicker.
Schedule
Don't know the official class schedule, but we are working on a schedule around the house. He will pick out the week's outfits on Sunday so we don't have to frantically run a mid-week load of laundry for the right socks or shorts. We will have a dinner plan for each night (that's more for me). The trickiest schedule -- after getting home from practice and starving, he'll need a snack before any homework can take place. Yeah, getting homework done midst all other evening activities -- cooking dinner, caring for his sisters, etc., is tough.
School starts August 23 but we are in position to begin.
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